Means for transferring liquids.



J. A. BARR.

MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION TILED OCT. 30. 1913.

1,133,606. Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l anpenfoz Jbsey k A liar! THE NORRIS PETERS 6a.. PHOTOLITHO.. WASHINGmN, D. C,

J. A. BARR.

MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. a0, 1912.

1,1 33,606. Patented Mar. 30, 1915 wuemtoz,

Jim-gala A. Barr i UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH A. BARR, 0F GATES, NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS.

Application filed October 30, 1913.

Transferring Liquids; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanylng drawmgs,

forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to hydraulics and it has for its object to provide a simple, cheap and efficient means for emptying bodies of liquid from containers or for transferring them from onecontainer to another and particularly where fixed quantities of liquid are desired to be emptied at intervals from an automatically replenishing source of supply, and a further object of the invention is to accomplish these results without the use of valve mechanisms that are apt to become disordered through corrosion or other causes.

On the other hand, the invention contemplates the use of imperforate tanks or containers not possibly susceptible of leak age below the fluid levels, except through disintegration of the holding walls themselves.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure l is a top plan view of a flushing tank for water closets constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof taken sub stantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevation; Fig. tis avertical transverse section taken substantially on the lines 4l of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the emptying siphon; Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on the lines 66 of Figs. 1 and 4:, showing the emptying siphon in its inoperative position, and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the meansfor maintaining the water supply.

Similar reference numerals in the se eral figures indicate the same parts.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915. Serial No. 798,259.

Althoughthe invention has a wider range OJ. appl1cat1on, as will be later enlarged upon, I will, as above suggested, describe it and have, 1n fact, illustrated it in connection with a flushing tank such as is used for water closets, urinals, etc. As so embodied, it may comprise a single casing or container 1 divided intericrly into what may be termed a receiving tank 2, a supply tank 3 and a discharge chamber 4, the former being preferably arranged at one end of the two latter. The receiving tank 2 is fed from a supply pipe 5 that is run from a large reservoir 6 (Fig. 7) having a constant level and hence having a tendency to maintain a constant level in the receiving tank 2 within thecapacity of the pipe 5, such level being indicated by the dotted lines AA. in Figs. 4 and 6. The partition or wall 7 that separates the receiving tank 2 from the supply tank 3 is lower than this level, as shown, so as to provide a spill-way between these tanks. The partition or wall 8 between the supply tank 3 and the discharge chamber ft, though higher than the spill-way wall 7, 1s nevertheless lower than the rim of the container 1 as a whole so that in the imtanks 2 and 3, the eXcesse will run off through the chamber 4. The latter chamber 1s, in the present instance, fitted with a coupling collar 9 at its bottom to which the flushing pipe 10 of the water closet is joined, but in a broader view of the invention, the discharge chamber and pipe may represent any medium into which the body of liquid is emptied or by which it is carried off.

Spanning the spill-way partition or wall 7 between the tanks 2 and 3 is a simple siphon 11, the long or receiving leg 12 of which is in the receiving chamber 2, while I leg 17 of .the siphon is adapted to assume a substantially vertical operative position in the supply tank 3 where it is immersed in the contents, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, or to assume a substantially horizontal inoperative position at the top of said tank, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, by moving the siphon between these positions on its pivots 15. The discharge leg 18 travels in the discharge. chamber 4 between corresponding positions, the legs being parallel, and the l I lower ends of both legs are turned laterally and upwardly as at 19 and 20 to render the siphons self-sealing. The two openings may be on the same level, as shown, but are preferably below the level of the discharge opening of the leg 13 of the siphon 11. Surrounding the discharge opening 20 of the siphon 14- is a weeping cup 21 having a 7 small orifice 22 in its bottom and the discharge chamber 4 is preferably formed with a depression 23 at its bottom to accommodate these when the siphon is in operative position.

' Just above the pivots 15 and in the region of their junction with the loop or connecting portion 24, the legs 17 and 18 are looped laterally as at 25, so that they clear the spill-way wall 7 between the tanks '2 and 3 and also the wall 26 between the receiving tank 2 and the discharge chamber 'when the-siphon is in its horizontal or inoperative position, and these loops also serve to preserve the charge in the siphon at that position. The main loop or connecting portion 24: thence proceeds transversely to the legs A '17 and 18 in the opposite direction, so that it lies horizontally-when the siphon as a wholeis in its vertical or operative position and vertically when the siphon as a Whole is in its horizontal or inoperative position,

position,'it is accommodated within the re and when the loop is in the last mentioned 'ceiving tank 2, as shown in the figures. As a means for rotating the siphon 14: from its inoperative horizontal position, which is also its normal position, to its vertical or operative position, I secure to lugs 27 on one side of the loop 24 one arm of a bell crank lever 28, the other arm of which extends to the exterior of the casing- 1 and is connected to a pull rod or chain 29 to provide the accustomed manipulating means.

, progress,

Of course, for a low tank this crank could be directly manipulated or connected with a press button in any of the ways now inuse. r

The laterally disposed loop 24: serves as a counterbalancing weight for such portions ofthe siphon as are disposed on the other side ofthe pivotal axis, namely, the loops 25 and theseals 19 and 20, as well as the weeping cup 21 and the balance is sufficiently delicate'so that, the cup 21 being empty, the siphon will hold the horizontal or inoperative position of Figs. 3 and 6, or will hold the vertical operative position of the otherfigures when the cup 21 is full and the weight of its contents is added on that side of the pivot. siphon 14 is greater than the capacity of the supply pipe 5 and also: preferably greater than the capacity of the siphon 11.-

In operation, the emptying siphon l t-is normally in a horizontal position of Figs. 3 and 6, being held there by the counter- The capacity of this" weight of the loop 24. The water is at the level A-A in both the receiving tank 2 and the supply tank 3, and hence the transfer siphon 11 is submerged, charged and ready for action. hen under these conditions, the chain or operating member 29 is pulled, the only mechanical movement that results is the shifting of "the siphon 14: on its pivot 15 to the vertical or operative position of Figs. 1, 2 and 4, this siphon'being constantly charged in either position by virtue of its peculiar shape. Immediately a flow is set up through the siphon 1i from the supply tank3 to the discharge chamber 4:, the outflowing water filling the weeping cup 21 and constantly overflowing therefrom so that the added weight on this side of the pivot maintains the siphon during the flow in the upright position. charged water flows 01f in'vol ume through the flushing the level of the water drops equally in the two tanks 2 and 3 until it reaches the top of the wall or spill-way 7,- whereafter it will lower more rapidly in the tank 3 due to the increased size or capacity of the siphon 1st over the siphon 11, whichlatter is then seekingto overcome the difierence in level bydischarging from the tank 2 into the tank 3; But the level in the receiving tank 2rhas also fallen inasmuch as the capacity of the supply pipe 5 is less than that of the transfer siphonll, which latter is out ofthe tank 2 at 1 transferring the liquid a greater rate than that of the flow from said supply pipe 5 into the receiving tank 2. All of the beforementionedactions continue to progress until the diminishing level in the receiving tank2 reaches that of the discharge mouth of the delivering leg 13 of the transfer siphon 11, at which point, of course, further siphonic action between the two tanks 2 and 3'is impossible. Here the siphon 11 is broken by an immediate further lowering of the level in the supply tank 3, due to the fact that the emptying siphon 1a is still operating because its receiving end 19 is below the level of the end of the siphon 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The siphon 14 continues to operate until the level in the supply tank reaches that of its receiving end, at which point it stops but does not break, because of its self-sealing construction, and the flushing flow has been completed.

Thesupply pipe 5 has, in the meantime, commenced to fill the receiving tank 2 as the siphon 11 is broken and the latter will not be recharged until the water reaches the level AA again, which it does in due course, flowing over the spill-way 7 and directly filling the supply tank 8. But before it has done so and during the interval that the level is rising in the supply tank 2, only, the water in the weeping cup 21, the weight of which, for a moment, continues to hold the emptying siphon 1e erect in its operative position, runs'out through the vent 22 and immediately and back to its inoperative horizontal posi tion of Figs. 8 and 6, but without losing its charge, so that it is ready to operate immediately when again submerged and to cause a repetition of the above performances. With the siphon 14- returned, the two tanks 2 and 3 continue to fill to their former level A-A, which when reached and being the same as that in the reservoir 6, stops the flow through the supply pipe 5 and the de vice as a whole is ready for action again.

As has been previously stated, the transfer siphon 11 must be of greater capacity than the supply pipe 5, else it could not effect a diminution in the receiving tank 2 and the water would never get below the spill-way 7 over which it would continu ously flow and continuously feed the discharge siphon 14 which operates as long as it is fed, there being no opportunity for the weeping cup 21 to empty under such conditions. Similarly, the transfer siphon 14: must be of greater capacity than the supply pipe 5, in the present embodiment, else the level A-A would never be disturbed and the transfer siphon 11 would be valueless.

The siphon 14 might be of less capacity than the siphon 13 and the ultimate functions of the parts would still result, but ina device of the nature of the embodiment shown, it is obviously preferable that the discharge siphon 1% be relatively large to give a sudden fiow and a good volume of water. In fact, it does not make a great deal of difference what the capacity of the transfer siphon 11 is, so long as it is greater than that of the supply pipe 5.

Of course, where relative sizes of the 'ran 'ements of the the siphon 14L swings up.

various pipes is mentioned herein, capacities is really intended as, for instance, a small diameter of the supply pipe 5 could be negative by an increase in pressure in the flow.

The supply system herein outlined is designed more particularly for a system of tanks arranged in tandem or in series on the reservoir 6. In the case of a single tank having an ungoverned pressure through the supply pipe 5, as from an ordinary water main, it might be preferable to provide the ordinary ball cock or float valve for cutting off the flow into the receiving chamber 2 when the proper level A-A has been attained, the float thereof being positioned in either the tank 2 or the tank 3 according to proportion and other purely physical arparts, as will be apparent to anyone skilled in the art.

With relation to the utility of the present invention and its various applications, I will first mention the advantages of use in connection with the particular embodiment shown. There is only the one moving part 14 which is one integral piece with no possibility of its getting out of order and it can be easily inserted in and removed from its bearings 16 so that the assembling of the device is the work of a moment only, the transfer siphon 11 being similarly simply laid in place. There are no valves to disintegrate, clog and get out of order or requiring to be reseated and the container 1 as a whole is practically imperforate below the water level with the exception of the discharge connection 9.

It often occurs that in large buildings requiring a large niunber of flushing tanks, as in hotels and oflice buildings, there will be available for water supply a spring or other source which, however, because of the chemical nature of its water, cannot be used even in the plumbing system with profit because of its corroding effect on the valves and other fittings. \Vith a device constructed in accordance with my invention, however, the container 1 may be enameled or glass lined, making it proof against the attacks of chemicals, and the siphons 11 and 14 may be made of the same material or of glass or lead or some similar resistant, so that there is nothing for the water to attack. The same system may be used in emptying bath tubs, wash basins, flush systems for sewage disposal plants and other similar connections or wherever it is desired to empty any kind of receptacle or pipe containing liquid. I further contemplate its use in the manufacture or handling of liquid chemicals,

such as the emptying of acid vats where valves cannot be used, and in this connection it will be noted that a measured quantity of liquid is discharged with the device A of the present embodiment, even though as some of the flow from the supply pipefi is added, but it is obvious that the-amount can be determined and controlled by s itably proportioning the, parts. .lclaim aS my invention:

1. The combination with areceiving tank, a supply tank and means including a supply pipe delivering to the receiving tank'for establishing an overflow level in said tanks, of a siphon of greater capacity than the supply pipe for transferring from the receiving to the supply tank andarranged to be submerged and charged at the said level, and intermittently operating means for emptying the supply tank and thereby breaking the siphon. p

2. A pivoted siphon mounted to swing between a substantially horizontal inoperative position and a substantially'vertical operative position, the ends of the siphon legs being respectively provided with seals turned in the direction of the pivotal movement from the operative to the inoperative position whereby they maintaina level in either position of the siphon.

3. A pivoted siphon mounted to swing between a substantially horizontal inoperative position and tive position, the ends of the siphon legs being respectively provided with seals turned in the direction of the pivotal movement from the operative to the inoperative position whereby they maintain a level ineither position of the siphon, and the crown of the siphon being constituted with. a loopturned in the same direction as the seals tofkeep it at a higher level than that of the seals in either position of the siphon.

a. A pivoted siphon mounted to swing between a substantially horizontalinoperative position and a substantially vertical'operative position, the ends of the siphon legs being respectively provided with seals turned in the direction of the pivotal movement from the operative to the inoperative position whereby they maintain a level in either position of the syphon and the crown of the siphon being constituted with a loop projecting to one side of the pivot in thesame direction as the seals to keep it at-a higher level than that of the seals in either'position of the siphon and with a further loop projecting to the other side of the pivot to act as a counterweight for the seals.

5. The combination with a supply tank, of a self-starting siphon having a seal at each end movable between a substantially horizontal inoperative position and substan- V tially vertical operative position, one leg of the siphon being arranged to be submerged in the supply tank in the latter position. of the siphon.

6. The combination with ,a supply tank,

position,

a substantially vertical opera.

provide a of a self-starting siphon having arseal-at each end pivotally mounted to move between a substantially horizontal inoperative position and a substantially vertical operative one leg of the siphon being arranged to be submerged in the supply tank in the latter position of the siphon.

-7. The combination with a supply tank :anda dischar'gechamber havingv a separating partition wall, of a self-starting siphon having a seal at each endpivotally mounted to straddlethe wall and to move between a substantially horizontal inoperative positank in the latter position of the siphon and theconnecting portion of the latter being formed with a loop turned transversely to the plane of the siphon legs to provide a counterbalancing weight.

9. The combination .wi of a siphon mounted to move between a'sub stantially horizontal inoperative position anda substantially vertical operative position, one leg of the siphon being arranged to be submerged'inthe supply tank in the latter position of the siphon, and the said siphon being formed with laterally and upwardly turned receiving and discharge openings at ,itsends for the purposes set forth. a

10. The combination with V a receiving tank, a' supply tank separated therefrom by a wall and means for feeding the "supply tank from the receiving tank, of a siphon pivotally mounted on an axis arranged on the same side of said separating wall as the supply tank to move'between a substantially horizontal inoperative position and a substantially vertical operative position, one

leg of the siphon being arranged to be subth a supply tank,

tion and a substantially vertical operative position, oneleg ofthe siphon being ar-.

merged in the supply tank in the latter position'of the siphon and the connecting portion of the latter being formed with a loop turned transversely to thebody portion to counterbalancing 'weightwhich latter 1s accommodated within the receiving tank when the siphon ,is in inoperative or horizontal position. p

11. The combination with a supply tank, of a siphon pivotally mounted to move between a substantially horizontal inoperative position and a substantially vertical operative position, the receiving leg of the siphon being arranged to be submerged in the sup-c ply tank in thela'tter position of the siphon and the latter being so balanced as to normally assume the inoperative position, and

weeping cup on the discharge end of the siphon adapted to be filled by the discharge]? therefrom and to act as a weight for holding E the siphon in operative position while the, flow continues therethrough.

12. The combination with a receiving tank, a supply tank and means including a supply pipe delivering to the receiving tank for establishing an overflow level in said tanks, of a siphon of greater capacity than the supply pipe for transferring from the receiving to the supply tank and arranged to be submerged and charged at the said level, a second emptying siphon also of greater capacity than the supply pipe pivotally mounted to move between a substantially horizontal inoperative position and a substantially vertical operative position, the receiving leg of the siphon being arranged to be submerged in the supply tank in the latter position of the siphon and the siphon being so balanced as to normally assume the inoperative position, and a weeping cup in the discharge end of the siphon adapted to be filled by the discharge therefrom and to act as a weight for holding the siphon in operative position while the flow continues therethrough. V

13. The combination with a receiving tank, a supply tank and means including a supply pipe delivering to the receiving tank for establishing an overflow level in. said tanks, of a siphon of greater capacity than the supply pipe for transferring from the receiving to the supply tank and arranged to be submerged and charged at the said level, a second siphon also of greater capacity than the supply pipe pivotally mounted to move between a substantially horizontal inoperative position and a substantially vertical operative position, the receiving leg of the siphon being arranged to be submerged in the supply tank in the latter position of the siphon, means for operating the last mentioned siphon to operative position and means for operating it back to inoperative position only when the supply tank has been emptied.

14. The combination with a container divided interiorly into a supply tank and a discharge chamber, one wall of each of which is provided with an open bearing, of a siphon arranged to straddle the intermediate wall and having a trunnion on each leg occupying the respective bearings whereby the siphon may be moved from a substantially horizontal inoperative position to a substantially vertical operative position in which one of its legs is submerged in the supply tank.

15. The combination with a recelvlng tank, a supply tank and a transfer siphon adapted to be charged by the filling of said tanks to a predetermined level and ar ranged to deliver from the former into the latter, of a self-sealing discharge siphon having a receiving leg in the supply tank with its intake opening below the level of the discharge opening of the transfer siphon whereby the latter is broken by the continued action of the discharge siphon. p 16. The combination with a receiving tank, a supply tank and a transfer siphon adapted to be charged by the filling of said tanks to a predetermined level and arranged to deliver from the former into the latter, of a self-sealing discharge siphon pivotally mounted to assume either a substantially horizontal inoperative position or a substantially vertical operative position in which latter its receiving leg is submerged in the supply tank, the intake opening of said leg being below the level of the discharge opening of the transfer siphon whereby the latter is broken by the con tinued action of the discharge siphon.

17. The combination with a receiving tank, a supply tank and a transfer siphon adapted to be charged by the filling of said tanks to a predetermined level and arranged to deliver from the former into the latter, of a self-sealing discharge siphon pivotally mounted to assume either a substantially horizontal inoperative position or a substantially vertical operative position in which latter its receiving leg is submerged in the supply tank, the intake opening of said leg being below the level of the discharge opening of the transfer siphon whereby the latter is broken by the continued action of the discharge siphon, and means of less capacity than either siphon delivering into the receiving tank for filling the tanks to the said predetermined level.

18. The combination with a receiving tank, a supply tank and a transfer siphon adapted to be charged by the filling of said tanks to a predetermined level and arranged to deliver from the former into the latter, of a self-sealing discharge siphon pivotally mounted to assume either a sub stantially horizontal inoperative position or a substantially vertical operative position in which latter its receiving leg is submerged in the supply tank, the intake opening of said leg being below the level of the discharge opening of the transfer siphon whereby the latter is broken by the continued action of the discharge siphon, and means for automatically returning the emptying siphon to inoperative position when the supply tank is emptied.

19. The combination with a receiving tank, a supply tank and a transfer siphon adapted to be charged by the filling of said tanks to a predetermined level and arranged to deliver from the former into the latter, of a self-sealing discharge siphon pivotally supply tank,

mounted to assume either a substantially horizontal inoperative position or a substantially vertical operative position in which latter its receiving leg is submerged in the supply tank, the intake opening of said leg being below the level of the discharge opening of the transfer siphon whereby-the latter is broken by'the continued action of the discharge siphon, and weeping cup on charge siphon for returning the emptying siphon to inoperative position by gravity when the supply tank is emptied.

. 20. The combination with a; receiving tank, a supply tank and a transfer siphon adapted to be charged byithe filling of said tanks to apredetermined level and arranged to deliver from the former into the latter, of a self-sealing discharge siphon pivotally mounted to assume either a substantially horizontal inoperative position or a substantially vertical operative position in which latter its receiving leg is submerged in the the intake opening of said leg being below the level of the discharge opening of the transfer siphon whereby the latter is broken by the continued action of the discharge siphon, means of less capacity than either siphon delivering into the receiving tank for filling the tanks to the said predetermined level and means for automatically returning the emptying siphon to means comprising a the discharge leg of the dis- 'to overcome inoperative position when the supply tank isemptied.

21. The combination with a 7 receiving 7; tank, a supply tank and a transfer siphon adapted to be charged bythe filling of said tanks to a predetermined level and BI;

ranged to deliver from the former'into the latter, of a self-sealing discharge siphon stantially horizontal inoperative position or a substantially vertical operative positionin pivotally mounted to assume either a 'sub which'latter its receiving leg is submerged inthe supply tank, the intake opening of said leg beingibelow the level of the dis charge opening of the transfer siphon whereby the tinned action of-the discharge siphon, means of less capacitythan either siphon deliver} latter 1s broken by the con-7V ing into the receiving tank for-fillingthe tanks" to the said predetermined level and means 7. for automatically returning. the emptying siphon to inoperative position when the supply tank is emptied, comprisin a wee in on on the dischar e end of a b Vb I said siphon and a counter-weight adapted the weight fthereof when empty. 7

Witnesses: I RUssELL B. GRIFFITH, H. E. STONEBRAKER'.

Washington, D. 0.

; JOSEPH A. BARR.

eoples, of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

